We have begun our day with a sideways kiss ( you know bad breath and all ) and a hug.
Category: Short Story
The wisdom of 4-dating questions. (Short story) 2-parts
Mom, when did you actually know you were in love with dad?
"Wintering in the Florida Everglades."
Human Snow Birds retreat to the warmer climates mimicking mother natures migration
“Falling in love with nature.”
Surrounded by nature, emitting happiness and contentment
PCT 2019 people and animals
Among the thousands of people hiking the Pacific Crest Trail in 2019, there are also animals, and photographer, Andrew Burns. He is not hiking the trail,
“2019 Pacific Crest Trail Days.”
We are sleeping inside a pup-tent for the very first time together.
“My nomadic travel origins,”
One aspect I thought of was my self-diagnosis of having a hyperactive personality with a dose of attention deficit disorder. 🙂
“Fellow World Travelers.”
It is always great meeting fellow travelers who seek nomadic adventures as we are a unique tribe of people whose experiences of the open road brings joys to our hearts.
“Their love is with me forever.”
I recently viewed the movie trailer “Green Book” scheduled for November 21, 2018, release in the US, and it triggered my thoughts about my travels
“Chipmunks Everywhere!”
I was taking a short day hike around the campground in Collier Memorial Park in Oregon when I met another camper/traveler and our conversation turned
“Travel dreams crossing the U.S.”
It has been a little over a month since I last posted a blog simply because I’m enjoying the time of my life fulfilling
“Angry voice of gratitude.”
I will never forget the sunny Monday morning inside the coffee shop, knowing you had seen me dozens if not hundreds of times reading the
“Table talk.” (short Story)
The town of Creighton New Hampshire was to celebrate the 1948 class reunion of the small towns only high school with 43 of the original 97
“Fathers Day.”
Today men all over America are celebrating Father’s Day spending time with their families, throwing a ball in the yard or enjoying a quiet day
“Juxtapose, the yearly ceremony.”
Again, as usual, I am seated watching the archaic traditions leaving no assumptions for what is to happen at this ceremony that has been held every
Arizona’s Route 89A, a scenic drive.
Everyone who visits Arizona always recommends the Grand Canyon and their next recommendation is usually the city of Sedona AZ to see the picturesque red
“Appreciating natural surroundings.”
Usually, on the weekends mostly during the morning hours, a hiking trail fills with groups of people flaunting their newly purchased hiking and backpacking gear.
“Astonished tantrum.”
I have witnessed unbelievable angry tantrums by toddlers, children, teenagers, and adults. But, during an incredibly beautiful wedding, I watched as a 5’4″, 180-pound, grey-haired
“Vaguely bestowed history.” (short story)
Ms, Charlotte Wetzler, was seated on the main stage, looking out upon well over 500-hundred guests who are her former students and the recipients of
“Rubber Mallet.” ( short story)
With each swing of the mallet, I pound the spike deeper into the ground. Anger, jealousy, envy, and hate fuels my swings but, I cannot
“Montgomery Alabama.”
On a cold rainy spring day, I toured several critical locations in the city of Mongomery Alabama which is ground zero of the Civil
“Our timeless love.”
Our family, our children, forty years we made. The mind-numbing daily routine we made. Our separate sleeping bedrooms we agreed. Because of commitments, our love
“Radiant eyes.”
From the time, I saw her from across the dance floor, I was tranced into seeing them closer. Standing in front of her, I
Betrayed and frantic, I think not!”
Since Feb I have enjoyed and settled into the Florida warmth, and because of cold temperatures, I used my backpacking pants’ less than a week.
“Identical.”
Every day since forever, I have seen you, and we are identical twins. I look into your eyes, and I see the mirror image of
“Blushed.”
Casandra entered the room, and I could not make eye contact, She walks past my table, and I look down at my paper, I sensed
“The wisdom of patience.”
I can remember as far back as a kindergartener, hearing my mother, father, siblings, friends, and teachers, telling me, or writing in the margins of
“Time to return to the trails.”
As the days of March wind down and I continue editing, re-editing and repeating the process of my short stories. The recent cold weather in
“Meander.”
During my lifetime of travel along the back roads, my reason to stop is best described as “distracted.” by what my eyes witness and I
“Suddenly there is no sound.”
Suddenly there is no sound of the trail, but I feel and hear my heart pounding after my climb to summit the small peak of
“A Grey Nomads Gap Years.”
My plan for the day was to set up somewhere along the beach to write and read all day on a picnic bench under a
Astral Congregation
At the beach, or in the park, the morning blend of sites and sounds coupled with the warm sunrise temperatures to sooth the skin adds to the beauty
“Travel guts: A special mode of travel.”
For over forty years I have traveled around the US for which my family and friends were astonished by the journey and marveled at the
“Valentines Day of love”
Well, it has come around again the commercially celebrated Valentines Day of love. It is the erotic, exotic, enticing, inspirational day for the expression and
“Wedding anniversaries and a birthday: part #3” (Final)
The twins and Johnathan are in the rear seat of the car with their father at the wheel, as they travel along their driveway from
“Wedding anniversaries and a birthday: part #2”
At 4:45 pm, their father, Jefferson Wheeler, was a third-generation farmer, who stood six-foot, seven-inches tall, with muscular arms, and a matching barrel chest. He
“Wedding anniversaries and a birthday: part #1.”
It was 4:30 pm on a western Nebraska farm, in the summer of 1969 with the humid July winds blowing as usual while the Wheeler
“Inscrutable trill silhouetted in front of me.”
I was scared almost out of my seat when Sister Abigale screamed at the top of her lungs forcing all of the fifth-grade students to
“I’m candid, fairly agile living on island time.”
I was born and raised in the Adirondacks in Upstate New York, and the first time I saw photos of a beach, I dreamed of
“The next dominant generation.”
I am a part of what some people call the greatest generation. When I consider how my parents who lived with nothing close to the
“Blink.”
Fortunately, during my lifetime I have recorded hundreds of hours of video with accompanied thousands of photos of my now adult children. My recorded library
“Study.”
As the college semester comes to an end, the mood of the students on the entire campus becomes stressfully solemn. Every nook and cranny is
“Loophole.”
For twenty years’ or more, the theater’s dancers have taken a ten-minute break every hour during any rehearsal no matter how long they rehearsed. Three
“Winsome Characters.”
When a child is born, they are an unwritten computer program learning from parents teachers and society.
M. J. Leake
“Viable at any age.”
Mel and Susan Hubbard a married couple were sitting on a park bench after walking three miles along the beach which they do every other
“Cozy Confessions.”
My thirty plus years of travel destinations are filled with photos and encountering people who are the inspirations for some of my creative writings ideas.
Grandparents & Parents Revelations: A love story
Kevin and Katelynn Crawford age 38 and 39 are a couple with seven children. They have twin four year- olds, a 6, 8, 10,
“Legendary Inheritance.”
Fifteen years have passed since international Dodgeball star Lucas Leonard Lopez was seen on the court. However, his eldest son Lewis Leonard Lopez has followed
“Atmospheric; A Short story”
Three months ago Jill and I decided to take a break with a tropical island weekend getaway. On our last evening, I dressed adorned in
“Droolling mushroom hunters.”
Hiking in the great northwest of the US brings you into contact with many types of people. My first encounter with mushroom hunters began with
“Music’s dubious riffs.”
During our annual concert, my high school’s jazz ensemble was playing before a packhouse of parents, students political dignitaries. We played several pieces that excited
“Centenarian love, passion, marriage, and dancing.”
The annual sweetheart’s dance has become a coveted gala event for the 190 residents at the “Living Years Village.” And again for the third year
“Faintly simmering and being beckoned.”
I stood in the doorway of the kitchen watching my mother cooking and preparing the Thanksgiving dinner as I drooled with excitement wanting to sneak
“Ghoulish.”
I have never really liked Halloween since the horrible calamity of 1975, for which my father tells the story with the smiling gleefulness of a
“Mirrored Gratitude.”
With their annual Halloween party two days away, Erica stood in the mirror admiring her Cleopatra costume. She adjusted the black wig with a gold
“Identifying Trademarks.”
The identifying trademarks were visible when the border officer lifted the tarp to reveal the cylindrical barrel. This story began after my best friend Charles
“Hiking a slot canyon.”
Ever since I viewed photos of slot canyons in Utah’s Zion National Park, I have dreamed of hiking within the vertical rock walls reaching towards
“Focused, divided attention and multitasking”
The term “laser focused” is associated with academics and athletics. To reach this level of concentration takes months, years and decades of mental and physical
“A tentative short story.”
Recreating a time from the past can be an adventure. Malcolm & Ethel Marshall, lived thirty-three wonderful years in a beautifully appointed retirement transitional housing
“An iconic American road.”
I was traveling south along Nevada route 95 when I wandered into Las Vegas to visit family and to check out Red Rock Canyon Conservation Area.
“”Penchant for poo.”
As a child growing up, I always had Labrador Retrievers as pets, and one of my chores was picking up after the dog. When I
“Disobey.”
I learned very early in my childhood before I started school that acting bad or being bad brought about a spanking or a scolding at
“Elevating my knowledge of West Wendover NV.”
My travel mission was set to photograph the Bonneville Salt Flats with a refuel top off in the town called West Wendover, NV en-route to Reno
“Enamored with Nature.”
After viewing and capturing photos of the natural beauty in Yellowstone National Park, I found the Flagg Ranch Campgrounds located along the John D Rockafeller
“My Homage to Travel Dreams.”
A retiree who accepts their status will become a happier person going forward into the second chapter of their lives. While many retirees remain in
“Unfurl and Synchronized Traffic.”
Depending on where you live planning a trip from your home to travel across town can easily be accomplished depending on where you live.
“Humorous moxie.”
Our eldest son Geoferry organized and paid for a private dining room in the exclusive up scale restaurant “Alain Ducasse,” inside the Dorchester hotel
“Dare-Devil Great Grandmother.”
Six months ago, I was with twenty-one of my family members to watch my youngest great-granddaughter tandem parachute from a plane 12000 feet above the
“Spring Symphony!”
There was a united symbolism as the band members walked from both sides of the stage to their seats for their premiere spring symphonic performance.
“Serendipity.”
It was a sunny Sunday morning as I waited in traffic for the light to change when the sounds of tires screeching interrupted my music.
“Against all odds at any age.”
Many baby boomers remember the 1973 exhibition tennis match also known as the battle of sexes when Women’s tennis champion Billie Jean-King defeated male chauvinist
“Crisp proud parents.”
Julius and Doretha Jefferson drove seven hours from Pittsburgh PA to West Point NY, to attend parents day at the US Army’s Military Academy. After
“Distances and Images.”
A tragedy brought us together, but serendipitous events spawned our meeting. My heart beats slowed in response to your beauty my eyes witnessed My voice
“A detonated heart mourns and grieves with tears of, sorrow, and despair for a lost love.”
Over the centuries the village of Paliseul Belgium survived the horrors of the thirty-year war, several bouts with the ravages of the plague, and cholera.
“Radiating calm and coolness.”
Many years ago during my childhood, I was always my mother’s accompanier. If she went to a funeral, of a friend, I went. Evening events
“Notorious Farce.”
When I was asked to speak here today, I was reticent because for the past three years I have looked upon you all seated here
“I have no qualms on a precipice.”
After two months of preparations, working out at a gym and buying $987.94 worth of backpacking gear. We are on the John Muir trail in
“Pink: Breast Cancer Awareness.”
The word pink is associated with romance, sweetness, and happiness, But the evolution of the word pink and its bright color has become associated with,
“Bitterly exposed, where is Edgar?”
Mother, I’m so upset and angry with Wilbur, this is the third time this month he has been naughty. What did he do? Well, when
“Apprentice.”
When I was newly assigned, my heart was filled with pride and honor, but, quickly I recognized it was I who was the apprentice and
Zip, a generational migration
My name is Mildred Hoskins, and at the mature age of 87, my birding dream has come true. My husband Charles and I were married
“Avid.”
As a child, I spent most of my life outside and unbeknownst to my parents, on nights above 32-dergrees I would sneak out of my
“The 50th Wedding Anniversary.”
Hello, my name is Johnathan and tonight we have gathered to celebrate the 50th wedding anniversary of my parents. My parents have a foundation of
“My little girl’s backyard fun.”
On a rainy Saturday, I was seated in the library reading Jane Eyre enjoying my afternoon tea, and biscuits when thunder, roared over the house
“A child’s blind tenaciousness, and a parent’s denial.”
Within seconds of Charlie’s birth, the doctor, and I was shocked to see his dark brown eyes searching the room, his surroundings and finally fixating
“Prudent kids on the cusp of being champions.”
We all have gathered her for our annual sports awards banquet to honor and celebrate the mighty, mighty, Bulldogs who are champions again. I want
“Instinct.”
I’m no hero. I acted upon instinct pulling Mrs. Harris from her car after she collided with the fence. Everyone says I’m a hero, but
“Sounds of Silence.”
Many years ago I participated in a stress management class where I gathered the knowledge of learning to de-stress to live a more peaceful life.
“Cleaning.”
Timothy and Susan Crawford were married thirty-nine years when on Valentine’s Day, their oldest son Jason asked his college sweetheart Meredith to marry him. Meredith
“2016 Nomadic Adventures & photos Part #1,”
It was the 1st of April when I decided to purchase a vehicle to replace my 1991 Ford Explorer, or as my adult son called
“Wedding Invitations,”
I attended two weddings accompanied by my special someone who excited my mother with the possibilities of our marriage one day. When my mom attended
Exquisite
My name is Sylvester Williewood, and the Mercantile Finance Corporation has employed me for thirty-seven years. I began my career in the mail room, and
“Uneven.”
During my four years of college, I maintained twelve college credit hours per semester, six during the summer including twelve hours of lab work per
“Float. A short story”
Kevin and Katelyn Crawford ages 48 and 49 are a couple with four children ages 6, 8, 10, & 12. They are a very active
“Ovation, A short story”
The yearly winter carnival held on Lake George, in upstate New York, has produced many fish and sledding tales that have become legendary folklore. But
“Toys from Christmas Past; Short Story #5”
The night before Christmas and all through the house all was quiet as the Lehman family was attending Christmas Eve Services where Jason was participating
Enthusiasm
It is our eldest son’s debut as the featured lead conductor of the famed symphonic orchestra’s Christmas concert that started at 6:00 pm. It was
“Holly Jolly Folly Christmas Re-Gifts. Short Story#4”
With 72-hours before their employees, Christmas parties. Jeffery and Jaqueline have yet to map out one of their most important decision of the Christmas season,
” Moody; Bah-Humbug!”
Eighty-seven-year-old Wilbur Wainwright, the owner of a window installation company, based in Ottumwa Iowa, began the business sixty-three years ago. He married once, divorced within
“Christmas Folly & Martyr.”
Robert Avenell; During Thanksgiving dinner, the Avenell brothers were enamored with an old 1950’s Sears & Robuck catalog their Uncle Rosco brought to the holiday
“Treasured Christmas Gifts, Short Story #3.”
It’s has been two days since Jeffery and Jacqueline consumed three bottles of Advent wine and ate four boxes of Advent calendar chocolate candies. But,
“Chaotic Chocolate, Short Story #2.”
After spending Thanksgiving with Jeffery’s parents, the couple enjoyed a leisurely ride home but stopped to buy a live Christmas tree in which Jason helped
“Bludgeon.”
When the suspect took the stand in his defense to explain his side of the assault and battery. The first question the prosecuting attorney asked
“Eerie.”
Eunice Hedge-Clapper died at age 62 when her car was struck by falling debris from an overpass as she sat in traffic on Interstate 95
Copycat
Good, afternoon I’m the eldest brother who is six years older than my sister Erin, aka “Baby Princess.” I gave her that name since our
“Rearrange.”
For thirty-five years, Oscar and Eunice’s marriage has faced various obstacles testing their enduring love for one another. Oscar has learned and developed the wisdom to
“Banned.”
Gerald McClain and Cody Whitten both age 89, have been life-long friends growing up on farms in Iowa near the small town of Hampton. After
“The Tiny Non-Profit Philanthropist.”
Every sorority on campus worked hard to recruit Twins Joan and Jenny Armstrong who stand 4’9″ tall. They are in the second semester of their
“Trust.”
Jacob and Hellen, have been married for twenty years when Hellen arrived home from work a couple of hours earlier than usual. As Hellen turned
“Boy Scout, Spelunking.”
When I was a Boy Scout, I loved camping, hiking and everything associated with being a Boy Scout and I was exposed to the word
“Subdued worry.”
It’s been twelve hours, and usually, they are home by now. Something is wrong, I feel it, and I sense it. The neighbor’s German shepherd,
“Subdued.”
It’s been ten hours since I have seen my best friends and usually, they are home. I can tell something is wrong since the neighbor’s
“Candle.”
The word candle conjures up many thoughts of how the candle for hundreds of years was used to light the night. The gas lantern threatened
“Flattery.”
It is often said, “Flattery will get you nowhere.” However, I believe a little or a lot of honest and sincere flattery will go a
“The Argument”
On a cold December morning, two weeks before Christmas, at 4:00 am the clock radio compact disc alarm activated softly playing The Beatles song, “Here
“Borders & Birds.”
Welcome to WBN, your only destination for bird news worldwide. The year was 2011 when the World Bird Federation met for the first time since
2016 International Balloon Fiesta
I realize it has been 9-days of daily balloons sightings as they rose into the morning sky. Ok, not every day, because some morning were
Tree: A short story.
When I arrived home from work and pulled into the garage, I heard my daughter voice saying “Dad” as I exited the car. I looked
“Daring.”
I dare you. I dare you. I double dog dare you. I triple dog dare you. These are the words and statements used by little
“Breakthrough.”
Sometimes life’s greatest achievements occur, with a breakthrough moments before giving up. One example of a breakthrough moment takes place when parents construct toys the night
Migrating Settlers & Rv’ers
Just like the early settlers who migrated west walking 20oo-miles, there is a current migration of travelers in recreational vehicles who criss-cross
Radical Moose Encounter
What would be the radical experiences to capture morning photos of the sunrise at a place called Silver Lake at Brighton Utah, 8000 feet above
“Twinkle.”
In college, there were weekends when many in my dorm would venture out to the lake near the university for a keg party. I reluctantly
“Cake.”
Working in an office environment is essentially a cake environment. Cake for birthdays, Cake for returning to work, Cake for leaving or taking a
“Shiver.”
During the winter month’s my mother always dressed me warmly with a thick heavy coat, gloves, knit cap and a pair of rubber boots for
“Vice.”
My evolution of the word “VICE.” As a child growing up, my father had a garage with a workbench with a vice similar to the
Realizations of a Travel Writer.
Several days ago, I wrote separate responses for WordPress daily word prompts for the words “stubborn,” “praise,” “muse,” “crave,” “profound,” and “apology.” As I formulated
“Crisis”
The word crisis expresses the idea or belief of something urgent, and I feel the word is used for dramatic effect to garner people’s immediate
“Nightmare”
While working at my desk, my dream turned into a nightmare I dreamed I was aware and awake of my nightmare. The nightmare never completed,
Forgetful RV’ers
Jim aged 87 and Mathew, age 89 are retirees from Florida and have been full-time RV’ers for the past twenty years. Late one night they
“Desert, which one?”
After an argument, I deserted my wife for the solitude and warmth of the desert, where I enjoyed the chocolate cake she made for dessert.
St. Louis Mo.
My journey as a travel writer begins in the city of my birth St. Louis, Missouri the “Show Me State.” On June 4, 2016, I
Voyages
The various reasons voyages are taken range from curiosity to seeking what’s’ over the next hill, seeking adventure to explore places unknown, a pilgrimage of
“Serendipity”
I use the word “serendipity” to describe the events that have brought about my writing and photography experiences and opportunities. Serendipity took center stage Tuesday
“Rebuild”
A large part of my life for many years I worked at my father’s business rebuilding car motors and transmissions, yet, it was my first teenager
“Embarrassing”
Embarrassing moments take place throughout life, and every time I see someone spill a liquid in their lap, I think of the horribly awkward moment
“Confession or legendary tale”
I was born and raised in a fishing village on a South Pacific Island where my father died recently in a fishing accident when I
“Denying or Justifying”
Looking into a mirror many humans see something they are not. Denying the color of thy eyes Denying the color of thy skin, Denying thy
“Sentimental”
Response to the one word prompt “Sentimental.” Most humans develop a sentimentality with inanimate objects, and I like many people have developed an attachment to
“The Worlds Best Gadget”
You’ve been granted magical engineering skills, but you can only use them to build on badge or machine. What do you build? For well over
“Courage to Overcome”
Courage to overcome life’s obstacles is essential, however, what motivators are used to begin and sustain the courage to overcome? Awakening from what I hope
“Happy Endings”
Tell us about something you’ve tried to quit. Did you go cold turkey, or for a gradual change? Did it stick? In the early 1980’s,
“Stroke of Midnight”
Where were you last night at midnight? Would you have wanted to be somewhere else? On Dec 31 2015 New Years Eve I was at the
“Polite Company”
In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “Polite Company.” “It’s never a good idea to discuss religion or politics with people you don’t really
“Safety First”
Share a story about a time you felt unsafe. When I began kayaking fishing, I was never worried about my safety with my personal floatation
“Everything Changes” (A love story)
Walking down the street, you encounter a folded piece of paper on the sidewalk. You pick it up and read it and immediately, your life
“Strike-a-Chord”
Do you play and instrument? Is there a musical instrument whose sound you find particularly pleasing. Tell us a story about your experience or relationship
“This is your life”
If you could read a book containing all that has happened and will ever happen in your life, would you, if you choose to read
The Wanderer
Tell us about the top five place you’ve always wanted to visit The word “Wanderer” is the name I gave my motorcycle nine years ago.
“The Outsiders”
WordPress Daily Post Prompt Tell us about the experience of being outside, looking in — however you’d like to interpret that. During the summer of
